Pneumatic joint separator for lower body alignment

ABSTRACT

A leg muscle, abdominal muscle, and spinal exercise device adapted for imparting curvature to a lumbar or sacral spine of a user and for manipulating the spine and intervertebral discs with decompression force includes a frame for placement on a floor. The frame has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface and bottom surface are in a spaced apart relationship forming a hollow portion there between. At least one inflatable bladder is carried by the top surface of the frame. A body strap attachment passes through the frame in non-fixed relationship and is partially disposed within the hollow portion for encompassing the user&#39;s thoracic-sacral spinal region and securing said frame. An elongate stirrup strap member is attachable to the body strap attachment thereby connecting to the user&#39;s spinal region. A stirrup is attachable to the stirrup strap member distal end.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application to applicationSer. No. 12/970,539 filed on Dec. 16, 2010 the entire contents of whichare fully incorporated herein with this reference.

DESCRIPTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercising device directed atalignment of the lower body and spinal vertebrae. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to the apparatus and methods for decompressingthe spinal vertebrae using the pulling forces of the lower body, legmuscles, and abdominal muscles to urge and correct aberrant spinalvertebrae postures.

Background of the Invention

The spinal column is a bony column forming the main structural supportof the skeleton of a human being and it consists of bony vertebraelinked by flexible joints and held together by ligaments and flexiblegelatinous discs of cartilage. The spinal column of an adult human beingconsists of thirty-three vertebrae in which the last nine of these arefused to form the sacrum and the coccyx at the back of the pelvis. The24 movable vertebrae are the 7 cervical (neck), 12 dorsal, and 5 lumbar.The vertebrae form a column for the skeleton and the arches arepositioned so the space enclosed is an effective tube or canal. Thishouses and protects the spinal cord and within it the spinal fluidcirculates. Without the seepage of fluids into the spinal column, thediscs will further dehydrate, which may result in further loss ofmobility, crippling, and even nerve damage. Thus, nutrient transport offluids surround the spinal column is important in maintaining spinalhealth. It is known that the spine has a number of curvatures along thesagittal plane, namely, the cervical and lumbar curvatures in which thespine is convex toward the front of the body and the dorsal and sacralcurvatures in which the spine is convex toward the back of the body.These alternating curves provide strength and balance to the body andare essential to allowing a person to walk upright. The lumbar andcervical curves of the spine normally define forward curves of about 35to about 45 degrees whereby weight is distributed relatively evenly onindividual vertebral surfaces and discs.

In individuals with lost or reversed cervical and lumbar spinal curvesdue to injury, illness, genetic predisposition, habitual microtrauma orsimply poor posture, the weight of the body bears forwardly on the soft,non-bony intervertebral discs, inhibiting fluid transfer and causing thediscs to wear, dehydrate and degenerate. Over time, these individualsexhibit a significant loss of natural joint movement. Lack of naturalmovement in the spine over time causes a reduction in the imbibition ofnutrient rich fluids that normally lubricate and maintain flexibility ofthe spine. Without this seepage of fluids into the spinal column, thediscs will further dehydrate, which may result in further loss ofmobility, crippling and possible nerve damage. It is further noted thatthe intervertebral discs' indigenous vascular fluid supply disappears atapproximately 20 years of age. Thus, active nutrient transport of fluidssurrounding the spinal column is particularly important to maintainingspinal health of adults.

In addition to spinal traction devices which are well known forstretching the spine longitudinally in order to restore lost mobility,devices have been developed for either passively or actively restoringthe normal curves of the spine to prevent the disabling effects of lostor impaired curvature mentioned hereinabove. An example for at home usedevice includes a Method and Portable Apparatus for Spinal Adjustmentdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US2003/0130696 to Hurd. In this device,a user employs the effects of gravity combined with simple leverage overa convex rigid surface to adjust the user's spine. Another example of apassive device includes, for example, the Spinal Column CorrectionDevice disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,310 to Hsein. In this device, auser is strapped to a series of raised supports that define what thenormal curvatures of the spine should be. According to the inventor, theweight of the user's body will bear against the raised supports tocorrect abnormal curvature in the spine.

An example of a useful device that actively exercises the abdominalmuscle and spine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,085 to Grahamentitled Rocking Vectored Pneumatic Joint Separator Inflatable CervicalTraction and Exercising Device, this patent being incorporated by thisspecific reference herein. An abdominal muscle and spine-exercisingdevice in accordance with the invention generally includes a framehaving a top surface and a bottom surface. A first arched projection isdisposed in the top surface along with a first inflatable bladderdisposed on the first arched projection for directly bearing againstlower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae of a user's spine in a firstdirection. A second inflatable bladder is disposed on the first archedprojection for directly bearing against the mid-lumbar and lumbo-sacralvertebrae of the spine in a second direction. The first and seconddirections are divergent along a sagittal plane of the user in order toenhance an elliptical curve in the thoraco-lumbar/lumbo-sacral spine. Asecond arched projection is disposed on the bottom surface for enablingthe frame and bladders to be rocked by the user in a directiontransverse to a longitudinal axis of the frame. This rocking actionprovides exercise for the abdominal, low-back and pelvic muscles whilethe spine is inflated into an elliptical shape.

Another useful device that actively exercises the normal lordotic, i.e.forward, curves of a spine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,226 toGraham entitled Inflatable Cervical Traction and Exercising Device, thispatent being incorporated herein by this specific reference. In theGraham patent, a device is disclosed which utilizes an inflatablebladder for actively forcing the cervical spine into a forwardsemi-circular curve. This exercising of the spine promotes fluidimbibition through the spinal vertebrae and intervertebral discs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,586 to Graham provides for a device and method formaintaining spinal health which utilizes a dual action air chamberdefining multiple vectors of force to be applied to a spine,particularly to the lumbar spinal region this patent being incorporatedherein by this specific reference. The device gradually lifts andseparates the vertebrae in a manner that surpasses the effectiveness andcomfort of conventional traction devices and passive spinal correctiondevices using a frame for aligning the upper spine.

U.S. Pat. Application 2007/0293796 is incorporated herewith byreference, to Graham provides a leg carrier slidably disposed in aconventional manner on a table for providing pelvis translation. Inorder to prevent or control twisting of the lower body, knee fenders maybe fixed to the leg carrier. A lumbar sacral unit disposed on thesupport table between the cervical device and carrier is provided forenhancing an elliptical arch in the users' lower spine. The lumbarsacral unit is also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,713,841, 5,569,176,and D508,565 by Dr. Graham and are incorporated herewith by specificreference in their entirety.

The present invention provides for a combination leg muscle, abdominalmuscle and spine-exercising device utilizing the vectoring of theearlier Graham work and further providing for apparatus capable ofexercising, decompressing, and aligning the lower body and leg muscleswhile the spinal vertebrae are pneumatically molded into the acceptedelliptical configuration of the thoraco-lumbar/lumbo-sacral spine to thelegs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in accordance with the present invention, a leg muscle,abdominal muscle, and spinal exercise device generally is provided forredefining curvature to the lumbar/sacral spine and for manipulating thespine and intervertebral discs with decompression force from the lowerbody. This device generally comprises a means for manipulating andredefining the curvature of the spine and a frame.

Specifically, the means for manipulating and redefining the curvature ofthe spine includes a top surface along with a first inflatable bladderdisposed for directly bearing against lower thoracic and upper lumbarvertebrae of a user's spine in a first direction. A second inflatablebladder is disposed for directly bearing against the mid-lumbar andlumbo-sacral vertebrae of the spine in a second direction to enhance thelower body strength and curve in spine. The adjacent inflated bladders,or alternately inflated bladders, provide diverging forces against theuser's spine and thereby cause stretching and longitudinal aligning ofthe spinal vertebrae while promoting fluid imbibition throughout thevertebrae and discs. Thus, initially, the inflated first bladder maylift the thoracic-lumbar spinal vertebrae while the inflated secondbladder may lift the lumbar-sacral spinal vertebrae thereby manipulatingand redefining the semi-elliptical curvature in the spine.

More specifically, a body strap attachment for encompassing the user'sbody and securing the frame connects to an elongate stirrup strap memberhaving a proximal end and a distal end. Preferably, the body attachmentconnects two ends of a strap, for example by means of a buckle, foradjustably securing the frame against the user's lumbar region.

The elongate stirrup strap member having a proximal end attached to thebody strap attachment thereby connecting to the user's spine and frame,and a distal end attached to a stirrup for encompassing the user'sfeet/legs to enable decompression force from the lower body to thespine. Alternatively, the elongate stirrup strap member may include anattachable pressure gauge for measuring the decompression force exertedby the feet/legs on the lower body. A handheld monitor communicates withthe pressure gauge for the user to monitor applied decompression orexercise force.

Even more specifically a stirrup attachment engagable by the user'sfeet/legs is provided for enabling pulling force from the legs and lowerbody to the spine. This stirrup attachment further enables the user toexercise the leg muscles while decompressing thethoraco-lumbar/lumbo-sacral spinal vertebrae which are pneumaticallymolded by the inflated bladders into the accepted ellipticalconfiguration. Thus the spinal vertebrae are urged and molded into thenatural elliptical alignment, the joints are lubricated and aligned, andthe lower body muscles including the legs, abdominal, lower-back, andpelvic muscles are stretched and exercised.

Alternatively, the exercise device adapted for the user to exercise andstrengthen the lower body muscles the proximal end is attached to thebody strap attachment without the frame spine for enabling decompressionpulling force aligned from the legs and lower body to the spine.

The device described hereinabove is suitable for performing a method fordecompressing the spine and for exercising the lower body muscles, legmuscles, abdominal muscles, comprising the steps of: [0017] (a)providing a frame attachable against the user's spine with first andsecond bladders disposed on a top of said frame and a rocker projectiondisposed on a bottom of said frame; [0018] (b) inflating a bladderbearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae andinflating another bladder bearing against the middle lumbar andlumbo-sacral vertebrae in order to create traction and spinal arc in thelower spinal region and to stretch lower body muscle groups, legmuscles; [0019] (c) inflating and exhausting alternatively the bladderbearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar with the bladderbearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae; [0020] (d)encompassing the user's waist/lumbar region and securing the frame witha body strap attachment; [0021] (e) connecting the body strap attachmentto an elongate stirrup strap attached to tension gauge for monitoringdecompression force and attached to a stirrup for encompassing theuser's feet/legs; [0022] (f) engaging slidably the user's feet/legs intothe stirrup for enabling stress aligned from the legs and lower body tothe spine; [0023] (g) creating aligned decompression forces between theleg muscles and lower abdominal muscles by pulling the stirrupedlegs/feet in a direction away from the spine away from the spine todecompress, urge, and align the spinal vertebrae; [0024] (h) monitoringthe tension gauge with a handheld monitor and controlling thedecompression forces between the leg muscles and lower abdominal musclesand repeating the exercising force to strengthen the lower body, spine,and legs.

Alternatively, the device described hereinabove is suitable forperforming a method, in accordance with the present invention, forexercising the lower body, legs, and spine to enable and promote lowerbody and spinal alignment, comprising the steps of: [0026] (a)encompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal vertebrae region andsecuring the frame with a body strap attachment [0027] (b) connectingthe body strap attachment to an elongate stirrup strap attached totension gauge for monitoring decompression force and attached to astirrup for encompassing the user's feet/legs; [0028] (c) engagingslidably the user's feet/legs into the stirrup for enabling stressaligned from the legs and lower body to the spine; [0029] (d) creatingaligned decompression forces between the leg muscles and lower abdominalmuscles by pulling the stirruped legs/feet in a direction away from thespine away from the spine to decompress, urge, and align the spinalvertebrae; [0030] (e) monitoring the tension gauge with a handheldmonitor and controlling the decompression forces between the feet/legmuscles and lower abdominal muscles and repeating the exercising forceto strengthen the lower body, spine, and legs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lower body and spinal exercisedevice in accordance with the present invention, including a framehaving two inflatable bladders disposed thereon, a pair of handheldpumps for bladder inflation, a body attachment attached to a stirrupstrap, a tension gauge, and an attached stirrup for feet/legs;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the top side of the lower bodyand spinal exercise device positioned for use in accordance with FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the bottom side of the lower body andspinal exercise device positioned for use in accordance with FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the device in accordance with theinvention showing the inflatable bladder disposed on a frame, connectedto flexible pump tubing, hollow and slot portions of the frame, and abody strap attachment interconnected to the frame slots and to theelongate stirrup strap;

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate perspective top views of the body strap attachmentwhich encompasses the user's spinal region, an elongate stirrup strap,and a stirrup. FIG. 5 illustrates the stirrup as an attachable loopedband while FIG. 6 illustrates the stirrup as a partitioned annulus(ring) for aligning and supporting the feet and the lower body;

FIGS. 7-8 illustrate the use of the lower elongate stirrup strap memberincluding an optionally attachable tension gauge for measuring thedecompression force and a handheld monitor for communication with thetension gauge. FIG. 7 illustrates the user in a relaxed position andFIG. 8 illustrates the user in the extended lower body position applyingdecompression force to the spine and inflated bladders against theuser's spine to expand and redefine the curvature in the spine;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary frame with wheels; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary stirrup with wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 there is shown a leg muscle, abdominalmuscle, and spinal exercise device 10 which includes a frame 14 having atop surface 16 and a bottom surface 18. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4,the top surface 16 includes a concave surface 20 and, as best seen inFIG. 3 a bottom surface 18.

The frame 14 structure is preferably molded in suitable lightweightplastic for enabling interconnection of the two inflatable bladders 32,34 to the top surface 16. As best seen in FIG. 4, the concave surface 20of the frame 14 includes a hollow portion 22 and slotted 24, 26 portionsfor enabling interconnection the air bladders 32, 34 and interconnectionof the body strap attachment 70.

With reference to FIG. 2, the inflatable bladders 32, 34 carried by theframe 14 are defined by an upper 32 and a lower portion 34 which aredisposed proximate a center of the frame top surface 16. With referenceto FIGS. 2 and 4, the air bladders 32, 34 are pneumatically inflated anddeflated through the use of hand held pumps 40, 42 or bulbs,respectively through flexible tubing 46, 48 lines and fittings 52, 54coupled to the bladders 32, 34 on the frame top surface underside 60.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inflatable bladders 32, 34 disposedon the frame concave top surface 16 bear directly against the user'sspine while frame 14 supports the user's body contour 62. FIG. 7 showsthe user at rest in an aligned position for exercise. FIG. 8 shows theuser applying longitudinal alignment force 66 and enhanced spinal arc 68created upon inflation 36 of the upper bladder 32 bearing against thelower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae and upon inflation of a lowerbladder 34 bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae.The arrangement of the frame 14 and bladders 32, 34 is described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,906,586 and 7,060,085 to Graham which are to be incorporatedherewith in their entirety for describing suitable bladders for use withthe present invention and their position.

As seen in FIGS. 1-4, a body strap attachment 70 may be fitted throughcorresponding slots 24, 26 in the top surface 16 of the frame andfastened in a suitable manner. Two ends of the body strap attachment 70,shown in FIGS. 1-3, may include a buckle 72 on one end and a bucklefitting 74 on the other end for adjustably securing the body strap 70and the frame 14 to the contour of the user's waist/lumbar spinal region62, In an alternative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, the user maydetach the frame 14 and use the body strap attachment 70 without theframe 14 or inflatable bladders 32, 34.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, there is shown an elongate stirrupstrap member 80 having a proximal end 82 and a distal end 86. Both endsof the elongate stirrup strap member 80 include at least one loop forfastening the proximal end 84 to the body strap attachment 70 andanother loop for fastening the adjustable distal end 88 to the stirrup78. As best seen in FIG. 3 the elongate stirrup strap member 80 includeat least one loop for fastening the proximal end 84 to the body strapattachment and is engaged with the bottom surface of the frame 18. FIG.5 illustrates a stirrup 100 as a slidably looped band 102 attached tothe loop stirrup strap distal end 88. FIG. 6 illustrates the stirrup 100as annulus 104 attached to the adjustable stirrup strap distal end 88.As best seen in FIG. 8, the annulus 104 stirrup is shown with apartition 106 and a support for each foot 90 which aligns each leg 92with the pelvis and spine while applying decompression force 94 to thespine.

With specific reference to FIGS. 7-8, in an alternative embodiment, aremovable tension gauge 110 is coupled to the stirrup strap 80. Ahandheld monitor 112 communicates 114 with the tension gauge 110 therebyenabling the user to simultaneously view the tension measurement on thehandheld monitor 112 while applying decompression tension force 94 fromthe feet 90 and legs 92 to the spine. The tension gauge 110 and handheldmonitor 112 enabling the user to simultaneously view the tensionmeasurement may be of a conventional design. FIG. 7 illustrates the userin a relaxed longitudinal aligned 64 position and FIG. 8 illustrates theuser in the extended lower body position applying decompression force 94to the spine and applying longitudinal stretching force 66 with inflatedbladders 32, 34 against the spine.

With specific reference to FIG. 9 there is shown an embodiment of aframe 14 having plurality of wheels 116 rotatably attached along thebottom surface 18. The wheels 116 help to allow the frame 14 to moveeasily when it is used upon a hard surface, such as tile, concrete orwood. The wheels 116 are recessed into the frame 14 such that only aportion of the wheels 116 extend beyond the bottom surface 18. Thishelps to allow the frame 14 to still work properly on non-hard surfacessuch as carpet. The plurality of wheels 116 can be at least one wheel,but is also understood to range from one wheel to many wheels.

With specific reference to FIG. 10 there is shown a stirrup 104 that nowalso includes a plurality of wheels 116. Just as with the frame 14 ofFIG. 9, the wheels 116 of FIG. 10 allow the stirrup 104 to move easilywhen it is used upon a hard surface, such as tile, concrete or wood.Again, the wheels 116 can be recessed into the stirrup such that only asmall portion of the wheels 116 extend beyond a bottom surface 117 ofthe stirrup 104. The plurality of wheels 116 can be at least one wheel,but is also understood to range from one wheel to many wheels.

The previous Abstract taught a spinal disc/joint, lower body, legmuscle, abdominal muscle and spine exercising device and method adaptedfor imparting curvature and manipulating the thoracic/lumbar/sacralspine and for decompressing/hydrating spinal discs and exercising thelower body are provided. The device may generally include a frame andapparatus for redefining the curvature of the spine and exercising thelower body muscles. Specifically, the apparatus for manipulating andimparting curvature of the spine includes a frame for placement on afloor and having a top surface, along with a first inflatable bladderdisposed for directly bearing against lower thoracic and upper lumbarvertebrae of a user's spine in a first direction. A second inflatablebladder is disposed for directly bearing against the mid-lumbar andlumbo-sacral vertebrae of the spine in a second direction. The adjacentinflated bladders, or alternately inflated bladders, provide divergingforces against the user's spine and thereby cause stretching andlongitudinal aligning of the spinal vertebrae while promoting fluidimbibition throughout the vertebrae and discs. Thus the spinal vertebraeare urged into the natural elliptical alignment and the joints arelubricated and aligned. An adjustable body strap attachment forencompassing the user's thoracic/lumbo-sacral-pelvic spinal vertebraeregion and secured through the frame is attached to an elongate stirrupstrap. The stirrup attachment engages slidably on the user's feet/legsfor exercising pulling force aligned from the legs and lower body to thespine, thereby imparting decompression force from the lower body to thespine and the lower body muscles including the legs, are stretched andexercised. Additionally a hand held monitor for communicating with atension gauge for measuring the decompression force exerted by thefeet/legs on the lower body and spine may be disposed and integrallyattached to the stirrup strap.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific abdominalmuscle and spine-exercising device in accordance with the presentinvention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which theinvention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that theinvention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention maysuitably comprise, consist of or consist essentially of the recitedelements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed hereinsuitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is notspecifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications,variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilledin the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An exercise device adapted for imparting curvatureto a lumbar or sacral spine of a user and for manipulating the spine andintervertebral discs with decompression force, said device comprising: aframe comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surfaceconfigured to rest upon a support surface, wherein the top surface andbottom surface are in a spaced apart relationship forming a hollowportion therebetween; at least one inflatable bladder carried by the topsurface of the frame, the inflation of the at least one inflatablebladder directly against the user's spine causing said bladder to expandand define an expanded configuration thereby manipulating and redefiningthe curvature in the spine; and a body strap attachment passing throughthe frame in non-fixed relationship and partially disposed within thehollow portion for encompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal regionand securing said frame.
 22. The device of claim 21, wherein said bodystrap attachment comprises two ends of a strap configured to adjustablysecure the frame against the user's thoracic-lumbar-sacral spinalregion.
 23. The device of claim 21, further comprising a stirrup strapmember having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal endattachable to the body strap attachment thereby connecting to the user'sspinal region.
 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the proximal end ofthe stirrup strap member comprises at least one loop configured tofasten the proximal end to the body strap attachment.
 25. The device ofclaim 23, further comprising a stirrup attachable to the stirrup strapmember distal end and configured to enable the user's feet or legs toapply decompression force from the lower body to the spine.
 26. Thedevice of claim 25, wherein the distal end of the stirrup strap membercomprises at least one loop configured to fasten the distal end to thestirrup for enabling pulling forces from the lower body to the spine.27. The device of claim 25, wherein the stirrup comprises a rigid footopening configured to enable the user to align the legs or feet with thepelvis and spine.
 28. The device of claim 25, wherein the stirrup strapmember comprises a tension gauge configured to measure the decompressionforce exerted by the feet or legs on the lower body, spine, and frame.29. The device of claim 25, further comprising a handheld monitor incommunication with the tension gauge and configured to enable the userto monitor applied decompression or exercise force.
 30. The device ofclaim 21, further comprising at least one wheel rotatably attached tothe frame and at least partially extending past the bottom surface ofthe frame.
 31. The device of claim 25, further comprising at least onewheel rotatably attached to the stirrup and at least partially extendingpast a bottom surface of the stirrup.
 32. The device of claim 25,wherein the stirrup comprises a slidably looped band.
 33. A method forexercising, comprising the steps of: positioning a frame of an exercisedevice with at least one bladder disposed on a top projection of saidframe so that the at least one bladder bears against a spine of a userin order to create traction and/or spinal arc in a lower spinal regionand/or to stretch lower body muscle groups and/or leg muscles, the framecomprising a hollow portion between the top projection and a bottom ofsaid frame; inflating and exhausting alternatively the at least onebladder to decompress, urge, and/or align the spinal vertebrae; andencompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal vertebrae region andsecuring the frame with a body strap attachment, the body strapattachment passing through the frame in non-fixed relationship andpartially disposed within the hollow portion.
 34. The method of claim33, further comprising slidably engaging one or more feet or legs of theuser into a stirrup of the exercise device, the stirrup coupled to theframe by a stirrup strap member.
 35. The method of claim 34, furthercomprising creating aligned decompression forces between the leg musclesand lower abdominal muscles by pulling the stirruped legs or feet in adirection away from the spine to decompress, urge, and/or align thespinal vertebrae.
 36. The method of claim 35, further comprisingmonitoring the decompression forces between the leg muscles and/or lowerabdominal and repeating the pulling of the stirruped legs and/or feet inthe direction away from the spine to strengthen the lower body, spine,and legs using a tension gauge.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein thestirrup strap member comprises the tension gauge.
 38. The method ofclaim 33, wherein the exercise device comprises at least one wheelrotatably attached to the frame and at least partially extending past abottom surface of the frame.
 39. The method of claim 34, wherein theexercise device comprises at least one wheel rotatably attached to thestirrup and at least partially extending past a bottom surface of thestirrup.
 40. The method of claim 34, further comprising connecting thebody strap attachment to the stirrup strap member.